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US Fish and Wildlife Service ICN: 11430-7-0354 FWS#: 144B-11430-98-J501 COST CODE: 11430-4850-1001 AMOUNT: $ 75,000 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT B ETWE E N FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES Introduction The City of Rancho Palos Verdes (CITY) is coordinating the planning efforts designed to resolve conflicts between the federally endangered and threatened species and projects proposed within the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern Los Angeles County which could impact these species and/or their habitats. This effort is part of the preparation of a Natural Community Conservation Plan/Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/MSHCP) for the Palos Verde Peninsula located in southern Los Angeles County. The NCCP/MSHCP is to be a range-wide document that will provide for the regional protection and perpetuation of natural wildlife diversity while allowing compatible and appropriate development and growth. This planning effort to date has been supported by local, state, and private funding. In FY97 a Congressional appropriation of$2,000,000 was authorized in "pass-through" monies to local jurisdictions participating in the State of California's NCCP program. These funds are to be equally matched by non-federal sources. This agreement is the instrument to provide the City of Rancho Palos Verdes with a portion of the Congressionally mandated pass-through funds. Since the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is the only local jurisdiction on the Palos Verdes Peninsula to sign an NCCP Planning Agreement with the resource agencies, these monies are being provided exclusively to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for preparation of the Palos Verdes Peninsula NCCP, which only encompasses area within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes at this time. II. Authorities The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter referred to as "Service") enters into this agreement pursuant to the authority provided by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended and Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1997. III. Purpose The purpose of this agreement is to assist in the preparation and implementation of the NCCP/HCPs for the federally listed threatened and endangered species and their habitats within the Southern California Subregion. Tasks include: NCCP/HCP and MSHCP preparation, processing, and administration; Geographic Information System (GIS) development, analysis, and graphic output; biological data collection including vegetation/habitat mapping, target species surveys, and data collection on other sensitive species; and environmental documentation. IV. Term of Agreement This agreement is to cover the continuation of work necessary to implement the NCCP/MSHCP process from October 1, 1996 through October 1, 1998. V. Specific Obligations of the Parties A. Service's Obligations 1. The Service will transfer to the CITY the amount of$75,000 for the accomplishments of the tasks identified in Attachment 1 as the responsibility of CITY; 2. The Service will review and provide input into the reports and actions generated by the CITY; 3. The Service will participate in appropriate advisory committee meetings, workshops, and key project level discussions; 4. The Service will facilitate the coordination of the NCCP/HCP and/or the MSHCP with other habitat conservation planning efforts on a range-wide basis and with efforts associated with other species of concern. B. The CITY's Responsibilities 1. The CITY will furnish materials, equipment, supplies, and labor necessary to continue the NCCP/MSHCP process as agreed to and described in Attachment 1 which is hereby incorporated as if fully set forth herein. 2. The CITY will participate in key meetings, workshops and key project level discussion during the planning of the NCCP/MSHCP. 3. The CITY will provide sufficient information to the Service so that the Service will be able to meet its obligations in the subsection A of Section V of this agreement. 4. The CITY will ensure matching funds required by Congressional language. 2 • • VI. Project Officers Project Officer for the Service is: Gail Kobetich or Beth Stevens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2730 Loker Avenue West Carlsbad, CA 92008 760-431-9440 Project Officer for CITY is: Joel Rojas Planning Department City of Rancho Palos Verdes, 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 310-377-6008 VII. Deliverables and Milestones The CITY shall provide mid-contract and final reports and supporting documents to the Service. In addition to any reports required by tasks identified in Attachment A-1.2, the mid-contract and final reports shall provide information as to the matching-fund requirement. VIII. Funding The Service will transfer to CITY the amount of$75,000 in FY 1997 for the work identified in this agreement in accordance with the budget attached hereto and identified as Attachment 1-A, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Future funding will be contingent upon the availability of future fiscal year funding. Requests for Advancement of Funds should be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service on a completed SF 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement Form, Citing Cooperative Agreement No. 14- -0001-9 And Document Control No. 11430-to: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Carlsbad Field Office 2370 Loker Avenue West Carlsbad, California 92008 3 • • Quarterly billings should be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service on a completed SF 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement Form, citing Cooperative Agreement No. 14- -0001-9 and Document Control No. 11430-to: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Carlsbad Field Office 2730 Loker Avenue West Carlsbad, California 92008 IX. Special Terms and Conditions None X. Applicable OMB Circulars: Office of Management and Budget(OMB) Circulars applicable to State, Local and Tribal Governments, A-102 (Admin), A-87 (Costs) and A-133 (Audits) are hereby incorporated by reference. Copies are available on request. Xl. Amendments Amendments to this agreement may be proposed by either party and shall become effective upon being reduced to a written instrument executed by both parties. XII. Termination This project may be terminated under the following conditions: A. Termination for Cause The Service may terminate this agreement in full, or in part, at any time before the date of completion, whenever it is determined that the other party has failed to comply with the conditions of this agreement. The Service shall promptly notify the other party in writing of this determination and the reasons for the termination, together with the,effective date. Payments made to any party, or recovery by the Service, under agreements terminated for cause shall be in accord with the legal rights and liabilities of the parties. B. Termination for Convenience This agreement may be terminated in whole, or in part, when any of the parties determine that the continuation of the project would not produce beneficial 4 . .ti results commensurate with the further expenditure of funds. The parties shall agree upon the termination conditions including the effective date and, in the case of partial terminations, the portion to be terminated. The parties shall not incur new obligations after the effective date of termination, and shall cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible. The Service shall allow full credit to CITY for the Federal share of non-cancelable obligations, properly incurred by CITY prior to termination. XIII. Certification Regarding a Drug-Free Workplace A. Definitions. As used in this provision, "Controlled substance" means a controlled substance in schedules I through V of section 202 of the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as further defined in regulation at 21 CFR 1308.11 - 1308.15. "Conviction" means a finding of guilt (including a please of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes. "Criminal drug statute" means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of any controlled substance. "Drug-free workplace" means a site for the performance of work done in connection with a specific contract at which employees of the Contractor are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance. "Employee" means an employee of a Contractor directly engaged in the performance of work under a Government contract. "Individual" means an offeror/contractor that has no more than one employee including the offeror/contractor. B. By submission of its offer, the offeror, if other than an individual, who is making an offer that equals or exceeds $25,000, certifies and agrees, that with respect to all employees of the offeror to be employed under a contract resulting from this solicitation, it will - 1. Publish a statement notifying such employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the Contractor's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition; 5 .s 2. Establish a drug-free awareness program to inform such employees about - a. the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace; b. the Contractor's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace; c. any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and d. the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violation occurring in the workplace; 3. Provide all employees engaged in performance of the contract with a copy of the statement required by subparagraph (b)(1) of this provision; 4. Notify such employees in the statement required by subparagraph (b)(1) of this provision, that as a condition of continued employment on the contract resulting from this solicitation, the employee will - a. abide by the terms of the statement; and b. notify the employer of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) days after such conviction; 5. Notify the Contracting Officer within ten (10) days after receiving notice under subdivision (b)(4)(ii) of this provision, from an employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction; and 6. Within 30 days after receiving notice under subdivision (b)(4)(ii) of this provision of a conviction, impose the following sanctions or remedial measures on any employee who is convicted of drug abuse violations occurring in the workplace: a. Take appropriate personnel action against such employee, up to and including termination; or, b. Require such employee to satisfactorily participate in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposed by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency. 6 v 7. Make a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of subparagraphs (b)(1) through (b)(6) of this provision. C. By submission of its offer, the offeror, if an individual who is making an offer of any dollar value, certifies and agrees that the offeror will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance in the performance of the contract resulting from this solicitation. D. Failure of the offeror to provide the certification required by paragraphs (b) or (c) or this provision, renders the offeror unqualified and ineligible for award. (See FAR 9.104-1(g) and 19.602-1(a)(2)(i).). E. In addition to other remedies available to the Government, the certification in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this provision concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the make subject to prosecution under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001. XIV. Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that: A. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement. B. If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instruction. C. The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the aware documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly. 7 • • . This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Cooperative Agreement to be executed by an authorized official on the day and year set forth opposite their signature. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE B �/' Date: /0/ Title. . • - • , . ►' :1:e; pc CITY � � `1 icy �� B / s Date: ATTEST• .1(445/0/7- / / City Clerk SUFFICIENCY REVIEW By: ��. - Date: fie' T'e: ` ' —lifo 72 8 ATTACHMENT 1 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATURAL COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLANS AND HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS FOR MULTI-SPECIES A Proposal submitted to The United States Fish &Wildlife Service by The City of Rancho Palos Verdes on behalf of the Palos Verdes Peninsula located in southern Los Angeles County A-1 A REQUEST FOR FUNDING 9 t A-1 A REQUEST FOR FUNDING SUMMARY On behalf of the Palos Verdes Peninsula located in southern Los Angeles County, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is requesting support for its multi-species conservation planning activities. These plans provide the ability to resolve conflicts that arise between the need to protect special environments and the need to proceed with key projects that may impact these sensitive lands. The funds ($75,000) would assist the CITY in developing and implementing Natural Community Conservation Plans/Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/MSHCPs) which is being drafted for endangered and threatened federally listed species and habitat resources in Southern California, specifically found within the Palos Verdes Peninsula and southern Los Angeles County. These actions include the preparation of agreements between federal, state, and local agencies and project proponents; environmental reports and biological studies; establishment of self-sustaining funding mechanisms; and coordination of the participating entities and advisory committees. Heretofore, these activities have been primarily supported by private, state, and local funds. The plans have identified and gained support for an implementation strategy that is self- sustaining. Even though these plans have not been finalized, they have progressed to the point where they have been used to facilitate conflicts. The attachments provide a more detailed description of the funding needs (#1-A), the agreements made as to process thus far (#2 and #3), and the Service's Contract Provisions (#4). 10 , A-2 City of Rancho Palos Verdes Scope of Work The following scope of work is a summary of the various tasks that have been, and are planned to be, performed by the City's consultant, Ogden Environmental, in order for the City to complete Phases I, II and III of the Palos Verdes Peninsula NCCP. As stipulated in Section V (Specific obligations of the Parties) of the Cooperative Agreement, the Service will transfer to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes the amount of$75,000 for the accomplishments identified in this attachment. These monies are being provided exclusively to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for preparation of the Palos Verdes Peninsula NCCP, which only encompasses area within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, since the City is the only local jurisdiction on the Palos Verdes Peninsula to enter into a formal Planning Agreement with the Service and California Department of Fish and Game. The City is under no obligation to share these monies with the other Palos Verdes Peninsula local jurisdictions. Other local jurisdictions may be eligible for future federal monies if they enter into formal Planning Agreements with the resource agencies and provide matching funds. 11 Phase I Tasks 1 P • t • u� wit C st• a wild' - a - • ie to define the limits of �• � � ,-. �- � � work and prioritize tasks to make effective use o the study area.agree on scope of f initial tasks to focus later tasks and phases. 2. �� d review exi ,u' ti • • ati. • .i.1.!• al esources land us- . - . � �•_! . .. 1 .caner • exi ifre -rve statu 1. • use c•n t • nts in • . information sources provided by Palos Verdes and adjacent jurisdictions. USFWS. CaliforniaAssociation o f Governments (SCAG). the City, Southern opportunities and landowners. and Manomet will be used to identify CDFG, 1 ando 1 maps andjurisdictional constraints for preserve planning. Zoning and pie P topography by and slope maps may be boundaries may be obtained from SCAG, and ... P which USFWS.. Manomet will provide their GIS database available from the L SFW (4 years of data), vegetation, gnatcatcher and cactus wren territory locations , includes �and dispersal information for banded birds to assist in identification of potentialSociety California Native Plant Society and Audubon linkage areas. The local representatives have provided the City with sensitive species distribution information. 99999646 3 OGDEN Propnecary with these knowledgeable people to clarify and update Ogden will meet g . to our GIS n. This compiled information will be input/transferred - infonnauo Pwith political boundaries se and formatted for analysis and presentation. A base map reared. as appropriate, and a map showing the current and topography will be prepared. distribution of resources on the Peninsula will be prepared. • conserved. Areas in Rancho Palos Verdes and adjacent 3. Identify habitat areas already on and private land identified aspreserved habitat using public � jUrisdiCtiOnS will be and planned land and the zoningmaps obtained from SCAG. Current ownership planningprogram will uses that are compatible with goals of the habitat conservation P also be identified. A map and table of acreages showing the current amount of habitat conserved will be prepared. • The Ogden Team will work with the City, the PVPG, 4. Finalize the target species list. g conductingfocused and the wildlife agencies to f the target species list prior to g different conservation field surveys for these species. Target species may be given • . on thepeninsula and elsewhere. Criteria for priorities due to their relative rarity and the necessary species, such as endemic status on the Peninsula, adding target p information to assess their coverage (e.g., population distribution and size) will be and Task 5 below. Additions to the target species list may developed during this task for the current six need for additional survey lead to the effort beyond that budgeted species listed in the RFP. results of Tasks 1 through 4, data gaps will be 5. Identify data gaps. Based on the that prioritized relative to the oafs of the plan. It is expectedtarget evaluated and g e s ies distributions will be incomplete and focused survey efforts for selected species will be needed. Some of the target �• species can be evaluated based on suitable peel presence of hostplant species for target butterfly species). habitat(e.g., the P� Field Studies 6 ' vi ave •nm• • us , •. .d e. . G • The • current vegetation map available from Manomet uses a non-star vegetation will be field verified and reclassified using the classification. The vegetation map CDFG Holland classification system used in other NCCP subarea plans. Although may be more appropriate for the Peninsula. other vegetation classification systems patches will be consistency with other NCCP plans is also a concern. Larger habitat prioritized over smaller patches in allocating this survey effort. Vegetation mapping. surveys (Task ? , and habitat restoration potential assessment sensitive plant species � costs. scheduled to travel and per diem (Task 8) would be concurrently mapis accurate with respect to position, Ogden assumes that the existing vegetation days) will boundaries, and labelingof polygons. A one day field effort (two personY P yg be conducted to review the map in the field and ensure that vegetation categories are classification system, as used in other NC CP consistent with the Holland vegetation from the The final map appropriately will be a ro riately coded so that no detail islost programs. further delineation of existing mapping effort. Survey efforts do not include PP g vegetation types (e.g., riparian), nor an assessment of vegetation per the Sawyer and I{ee}er-Wolf vegetation classification system (1995), although either of those efforts could be conducted for an additional cost. inselected Qeo� icall�� relevant habitat 7. Pe*�orm selected targe_t species surveys cies within habitat patches. Focused field searches will be conducted for target species . likely to support them. Survey efforts will be prioritized in conjunction patches most ike . • P e larger habitat patches may be with the City and wildlife agencies. For example, g 799999646 4 OGDEN Proprietary • over smallerpatches in allocatingthis survey effort: habitat patches having prioritized o r • . high development potential may be prioritized for surveys over patches already g P constrained or conserved in open space. We assume the City will be responsible for obtainingpermission for field access in a timely manner to allow for an efficient survey schedule. Ogden botanists will conduct focused surveys for the target plant species, bright green dudleya (Dudleya virens) in appropriate coastal bluff scrub Pe g habitat. Surveys will focus on filling distributional gaps in the database and obtaining information ono ulation size. In addition, limited surveys will be conducted for p Pe other coastal scrub plant species of concern. These survey efforts will also be focused towards filling gaps in the database and prioritized according to _' ' agreed upon with the Ogden Team,City staff.and the wildlife agencies. A of 400 acres of coastal sage scrub will be assessed in these additional surveys. A . . total of three days (six person days) will be expended on sensitive plant surveys. Manomet biologists are already conducting a population monitoringprogram of cactus wrens and gnatcatchers on the Peninsula. About 10 percent of their field effort will be allotted toward focused surveys for other target animal species. 8. Assess restoration potential of degraded areas. Disturbed areas and degraded habitats will be assessed for their relative potential for restoration to recover or enhance habitat value. Areas adjacent to existing large patches of intact habitats will be prioritized for this assessment. Areas to be evaluated may include ruderal habitats determined to be key linkage areas and disturbed areas directly adjacent to large intact patches of native habitats. 9. •.a - .• •e . G da .•• - wit win • f . t field e.• .s • other non-di •tai sources. Once all field surveys and other sources of information. � such as recent EIR studies, are gathered and evaluated, the GIS database will be updated with this new information. Biological Analysis and Preserve Design Alternatives 10. •,• c a . ..tat eval a ••n . e• •• - I . 1 b.• . . o . •_ i. • - -as. Using the updated GIS database, a relative habitat evaluation of habitat patches will be developed. The Ogden Team will work with the City and wildlife agencies to identify P g habitat criteria that will assist in developing an objective relative habitat valuation matrix. The habitat evaluation willrovide an objective basis for identification of P . biological core and linkage areas within the study area and for assisting in prioritizing V areas for conservation. Target species presence/abundance, suitable habitat for target species (e.g., butterfly host plant presence/abundance), habitat patch size, adjacency to existingconserved habitat. development constraints (e.g., slope), existing adjacent land use. andP otential to function as a habitat linkage are a few of the factors that could be used to rank habitat areas. 11. Performa gap analysis. The biological core and linkage areas will be examined relative to theirP resent conservation status and risk to future development. The Ogden Team, with the assistance of City staff, will determine which areas are sufficientlyprotected by existing physical or legal constraints (e.g., steep slopes, existingorplanned open space. or mitigation easements). This analysis will provide V P P .. - the City with an assessment of key habitatthat atches need to be prioritized for P may conservation and suggest the need for various potential conservation and management . approaches for different species. 12. Prepare three prelirniry preserve design alternatives,. A preferred preserve design and two alternatives will be developed to provide the City with varying levels of • 999996467 5 OGDEN Proprietary conservation for each of the target species. The Ogden Team will draft preserve alternatives that take advantage of existing land conservation opportunities and identify the relationship of planned or potential future projects to the overall preserve design. Ogden will identify those areas requiring increased protection of biological resource values to adequately build a viable preserve and identify those parcels that may need to be acquired to protect or enhance biological values. The descriptions of the alternatives will include a table of acres of conserved habitat, by vegetation community, and an analysis of target species conserved. 13. Prepare a Phase I Report. This report will include presentation of existing conditions- I of biological resources within the study area, a summary of the methods used to develop and analyze the database,the results of the biological assessment. description of the biological core and linkage areas. description of the three preliminary preserve design alternatives, recommendations for the major features required of the NCCP plan.and a preliminary HCP scope of work and schedule. The City will be provided a draft report to review over a 30 day period. Based on the City's review, a final report will be submitted within 30 days. 14. Attendance at tneetmis and presentations at public workshops/hearings, Up to ten meeungs with the City, wildlife agencies, and PVPG workshops (with two Ogden Team members in attendance) are budgeted for Phase I. i • 799999646 6 OGDEN Proprietary 1111. MIL 111111. emit NIL MIL MIL Mims MIL NIL. MIL NM– MIL MIL MIL. Immie milk MN& essik4 , t FIGURE 1. RANCHO PALOS VERDES HCP PHASE I Start Scheduled Finish , Mar Apr May IJun Jul Aug 1 Sep Oct Nov Dec Name Scheduled -----� 313191 313/'97 e NOTICE TO PROCEED 1. KICK-OFF MEETIN •G 3/6/97 316/97 • ____..--- -- ------------ .. .... ... ... ..... ..................................... ...........3!7/97........... 3x111'97 ,,1.! ..._ __...__..__... ------•---._.__ ,..._._._..__._..... 2. DATA COMPILATION AND REVIEW 3. IDENTIFY EXISTING CONSERVED HABITATS................ 3/7/97 3/28/97 %/////i ._._ ,_.___.__.. .—.._._...__. .......__._...,....._...__.__. _-•.,--__.___ ...__..__ ARGET SPECIES LIST 4/11197 4/11/97 .... .._._-.___..... ._�.._.—.._. ..._.... _...._. -...__— 4. FINALIZE T . ••, ,_.•._—.._____.__ • . . DATA GAPS 4/11/97 4/11197 —_ .. ---._._... 5. IDENTIFY _ ......._................... ......................................._........_---•--••--.._..__ FIELD STUDIES 4/14/97 ...._.. �-• 6/27/97 _ --.._....._.._...__._ ......... ..._ ._.. ..... .. 617197 6. REVISE VEGETATION MAP 4/14/97 7. FOCUSED TARGET SPECIES SURVEYS 4/14/97 6127197 .......... _ _. _........... .................----•._.._........_........_.......... ...._..---...._....__......_ _ .—_._-- ............6/27/97...._.... - . ////////////////////////� 8. ASSESS RESTORATION POTENTIAL 4/14/97Mil , _.. _......_._._ .._._._..__ _____.......•...... _._..._._ • S 3/7/97 7118197 % 9. UPDATE EXISTING GIS DATABA E _ _....__ ----.. ..__..---....----.. .. .� ._...._.._._ -- _ ---_------. .. BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND PRESERVE DESIGN 7/21197 9/19/97 .__._._ __ •.•--•------ ---- - DEVELOPMENT_..__. ......___.._.... ............... ...... _.._..-- 7 8/15/'9 10. DEVELOP HABITAT EVALUATION AND 7/21/97 7 IDENTIFY BIOLOGICAL CORE b LINKAGES ................. _......................._........_.. ...._..._.—. .._.._ _ --•------ __........_..._ _..______...----®•--- ----.___.._.. 11. PERFORM GAP ANALYSIS •• 8/18/97 8/22/97 ....t... ._ ___• ________•••• ___________. . . ... ....... ... ... ..... ............ ....._........_............ .__............_.._...._-.... _-9/19197.__...... ...........—._._.r .........• 12. DEVELOP PRELIMINARY PRESERVE DESIGN 8/25/97 ALTERNATIVES .._.._...._........_ _............_............__... _......_..----...__.. -- •13. PREPARE PHASE I REPORT 6/1197 12/12/97 . ✓lll/ B `�� REPORT PREPARATION 611197 10/16/9 IU DRAFT REPORT 10/17197 ____ _.. ____._.__.. ..... ................• CITY REVIEW OF DRAFT REPORT 10/20/97 11114/97 -•_•. •«••- _.... _.,• __ FINAL REPORT............ ...... .............._..----•- 11117197 12/11/97 —_ -••-~ ''""""' SUBMIT FINAL REPORT 12/12/97 12112!97 ------- 14. MONTHLY MEETINGS AND 3/6197 12/12/97 %// HEARINGS/WORKSHOPS Critical %////////////1 PfOgfen Smeary n.,.:.,,..•neu�`Nn PAI OS VERDES _ ., A • J Phase II Tasks 1. Complete biological surveys. Focused target plant surveys within RPV are to be conducted in spring 1998 to complete the biological database development. Surveys will occur from April through June,which will be timed to encompass a portion of the blooming'periods of all eight target plant species (see attached target species list). The new survey data will be incorporated into the GIS database. A total of 80 hours of field effort (two or three field visits) is included in this task. Ogden assumes the City will be responsible for obtaining access to private properties for these surveys. 2. Finalize preserve areas and linkage areas. After inclusion of sensitive plant data and based on comments from City staff, the working group, landowners, and resource agencies, a final preserve design for inclusion in the subarea plan will be developed from the preliminary preserve alternatives made during Phase I of the program. This final preserve design will be the basis for the analysis of the plan's effects and species permit coverage. Effort to produce two drafts of the preferred design are included in this task. 3. Develop preserve management. monitoring and reporting program. The wildlife agencies have recommended including a framework habitat management and monitoring program in subarea plans. This framework plan would not include detailed, area-specific directives. It would provide technical guidelines, strategies, and reporting requirements to be considered in area- specific plans, which we assume will be prepared by the City and project applicants during include assembly and implementation. The habitat management program will guidelines for compatible land uses within and adjacent to preserve habitat. The monitoring and reporting program would only include the target species covered by the plan. 4. Prepare habitat restoration and brush management guidelines. Habitat restoration and brush management are expected to be key habitat management issues for achieving a viable preserve design. The guidelines will be conceptual, but should be applicable to most areas within the preserve. These guidelines will include restoration success criteria, restoration site monitoring requirements, recommended plant palettes for specific habitat subassociations, including inclusion of target pant species and butterfly host plants,where applicable. Brush management guidelines will include recommended set backs, timing of brush clearing activities, and methods to minimize adverse affects of brush management. Landscaping plans and working drawings are not included in this task. 5. Analyze subarea plan effects. Ogden will analyze the effects of the resulting subarea preserve design, including a comparison of the three alternative designs on habitats and target species and determine the expected level of take of target species and habitats under the plan. A detailed population viability assessment (PVA) of each preserve design alternative will be conducted for California gnatcatcher and coastal cactus wren by Ogden and Manomet Observatory. - . 6. Prepare financing plan. In concert with City staff and Ogden, Dr. Jun Onaka of Onaka Planning and Economics (OPIE) will prepare a financing plan as required by the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) process under Section 10(a) of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plan will include: (1) a cost analysis of HCP implementation, including estimate economic and land use impacts of plan; (2) recommended sources of funding; (3) a cash flow analysis of program costs and funding, as necessary. This task includes one draft and one final financing plan documents. RPV NCCP Phase II& III Scope Page 2 • . 7. Prepare subarea plan document. In concert with City staff, Ogden will prepare a document describing the plan, its effects, and its implementation mechanisms (see attached Table of Contents). Implementation process and mechanisms would need to be provided by the City. The subarea plan would serve as an NCCP document as well as a HCP under Section 10(a) of the ESA. This task includes one draft and one final subarea plan documents. Ogden assumes the City will be responsible for preparing relevant sections of the subarea plan pertaining to land use planning, local ordinances, and project-specific permit procedures.. - 8. Attend Phase II meetings. Ogden assumes that two meeting days per month will be required. A total of 23 person-days are budgeted at senior staff rates. Phase III Tasks 1. Assist in the preparation of NCCP implementing agreement. Ogden will assist Rancho Palos Verdes' legal counsel to create the implementing agreement (IA) that identifies the responsibilities of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and other appropriate parties, in implementing the subarea plan. The City will have the primary responsibility in developing the IA. Ogden will serve in an advisory and review capacity only and will not be responsible for drafting language for the IA. Ogden will provide the City with lAs developed for previous NCCP subarea plans. 2. Negotiate wildlife permits. Ogden will meet with City Staff, USFWS, and CDFG to assist in negotiating plan components, the list of covered species, and other aspects of the requested permits and authorizations. A total of 9 person-days are budgeted at senior staff rates. 3. Prepare NEPA/CEOA documentation for subarea plan. Ogden will prepare an to satisfy the NEPA and CEQA requirements for the Rancho Palos Verdes Subarea HCP. The EIR/EA will be written in accordance with USFWS NEPA requirements and City of Rancho Palos Verdes CEQA regulations. The EIR/EA will evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with two aspects of the Rancho Palos Verdes Subarea HCP: 1) the impacts to sensitive plant and animal species from the public and private projects to be implemented in Rancho Palos Verdes for which the master Section 10(a) permit will be issued, and 2) the impacts associated with the adoption of the Subarea HCP. All environmental issues will be evaluated in the EIR/EA; however, it is anticipated that the EIR/EA analysis will focus mainly on land use, biology, public services, and housing/population. Ogden anticipates that the EIR/EA will support a combined certified EIR/Finding of No Significant Impact, if mitigation measures are incorporated into the project description prior to public distribution of the EIR/EA. Ogden will also prepare a Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program (MMRP) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines. This task includes one draft and one final each of the EIR/EA and MMRP documents. RPV NCCP Phase II& III Scope Page 3 RPV NCCP a t • Phase II and III Schedule Task January Feburary- March - April May June July August September October _November December Phase II Biological Surveys - --- --- __-=--_— — __ --— Finalize Preserve Areas __ Monitoring Plan _NN Restoration&Fire ------- N_NN N_N__ _--NN -_ -__-_-.- _ _ I Plan Effects Analysis ---- -- ----- =_.---....====--_ -- - Financing Plan ------- ------- ------- N N__ -__NN N-____ _N_-__ _NNN --_ Plan -_ _N____ ___N__ N_NN _N____ N_NN N_NN Subarea lDoc. Phase 11 Meetings - N_N__ Phase III _ _ _ --- -_ _ _-'- N-__N N-_-N =--. ._=.-=-_,. N-__N IAPrep. - N_NN N_NN N_NN ,==-....===..- ___ _-NN Permit Negotiations N ------ N_NN - -"' ___NN _NN__ EIR/EA,MMRP Docs. _N---- ___N__ _----- ____._...- Phase III Meetings 1 Page 1 ATTACHMENT 1-A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL Summary: This request is for$75,000 in federal funding assistance for development of the Natural Community Conservation Plan/Multi-Species Conservation Plan (NCCP/MSHCP) by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for the Palos Verdes Peninsula located in southern Los Angeles County. Objective: The preparation of an NCCP/MSHCPs which provides for the conservation of sensitive wildlife resources in southern California, specifically resources found in the Palos Verdes Peninsula area of southern Los Angeles County in a manner which will allow necessary public and private projects to proceed. Impact: If funds were provided for these purposes, several key projects could be evaluated in the context of the NCCP/MSHCPs and, therefore, benefit from the accelerated review and approval process as well as earlier federal consultation and conflict resolution. These projects include key public improvements that are deemed essential to the health and safety of City of Rancho Palos Verdes residents. Many of these projects involve substantial Federal funding and involvement and potentially conflicting mandates and interpretations of different federal laws and statutes. There are also a large number of private developments found within the Palos Verdes Peninsula area of southern Los Angeles County affected by the provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The costs of these projects are several billion dollars and an investment to expedite the implementation of the NCCP/MSHCPs would produce long-term cost savings in avoidance of delays caused by ESA regulations. Contents.: This proposal requests funding support for the development of the NCCP/MSHCPs for the Palos Verdes Peninsula located in southern Los Angeles County, California, by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Shown below is the proposed budget for expenditure of the requested funds; all monies would be used to reimburse the CITY for expenses incurred in the development of the NCCP/MSHCPs. 12 • A-1.1 BUDGET Tasks: Costs: 1. NCCP/MSHCP preparation, processing, $75,000 and administration. TOTAL: $75,000 Work activities for which federal funding is sought has been or will be performed by CITY staff and/or consultants pursuant to approved contracts. Pursuant to Section VII of the Cooperative Agreement, the CITY agrees to provide all data produced by CITY staff and/or consultants under these contracts to the Service and California Department of Fish and Game. 13 c A-1.2 M:\USERS\JOELR\WPWI N60\NCCP\MSC\COOP-AGR.FWS 14